Blue Jackets notebook: Backman shows good, bad sides

Blue Jackets defenseman Christian Backman isn't afraid to take chances with the puck. It's both a strength and a weakness.

On some nights, he can keep both teams in a game with his decision-making.

Fans got to see Backman at his best and sometimes most maddening last night in the Jackets' 7-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

In the second period, Backman scored a power-play goal and supplied a gorgeous assist, faking a point shot and weaving through defenders in the offensive zone to set up a Kristian Huselius tally.

Backman also had a shot blockedthat nearly led to a breakaway, failed to keep the puck in the zone during a power play and had one or two high-risk passes that probably created anxiety behind the bench.

But on this night, coach Ken Hitchcock was pleased with the production of his Swedish defenseman.

"He's got great composure, he's got a great shot and he did a really good job," Hitchcock said. "He's a very good defenseman moving forward in the zone."

Backman, 28, likely will give Hitchcock a few fitful nights, but the coach acknowledges that the former St. Louis Blues first-round pick has to play on the edge to be effective.

"His game is best when he plays like we're down a goal," the coach said.

The Jackets are hoping Backman can grow into a power-play quarterback. If they can avoid it, the Jackets don't want to rely on rookie forward Jakub Voracek to man the point and have to replace him down low with a forward of lesser skill.

Backman had a rough first period but showcased his talent over a four-minute stretch of the second. He took a feed from Huselius on a five-on-three power play and ripped a shot from the left circle past goalie Cristobal Huet at 7:28. Minutes later, he faked a shot from the left point and skated in tight between two defenders. Backman shot the puck and it squirted to Huselius, who buried it at 10:47 to make it 4-0.

"I like to find the open lanes on the offensive end," Backman said. "I think I made the right choice there not to shoot. It was a pretty good night."

Power supply

The Jackets broke out of a 2-of-24 funk on the power play with three tallies. They finished the night 3 of 6. In fairness, the Jackets have played their top six forwards in the two home games, where they are 4 of 12.

Throwing punches

Forward Alexandre Picard had a busy night. He threw a pair of big first-period hits and was made to answer for them in two fights. He had a scrap with former Blue Jacket Kevyn Adams in the first period and Colin Fraser in the second.

"I haven't been in two fights in a game since I was in juniors," he said. "I'm not the best at (fighting). I'm certainly not Jon Mirasty."

Filatov update

Hitchcock said Nikita Filatov could play Thursday or Friday if he suffers no setbacks in practice. He returned to practice Sunday after sitting out because of a hairline fracture in his right lower leg.